No, YOU'RE crying...

Grab the tissues, prepare yourself mentally, and get ready for a cuteness overload. A monkey who was being treated for injuries at Vervet Rescue Centre has had an emotionally-charged reunion with his troop.

The footage, posted online by Umsizi Umkomaas VRC in KwaZulu-Natal, shows the monkey (Pearce) being released from captivity, after a long spell in rehabilitation. Once Pearce sees he is free, he charges towards a pack of his fellow primates, waiting for him on top of the shelter.

After scampering up to the roof, Pearce is greeted by a party of six simians. One most certainly looks like his mother, and the proof is in the hugging.

Viral footage of Vervet monkets

The newly-released ape is greeted with a huge, sprawling cuddle that looks like it will never end. Our hearts were bursting with happiness, as Pearce was clearly missed by his troop. In fact, his suspected mother clings on to her boy for dear life, fearing that losing him again would be too much to take.

Unlike most boys and their affectionate mothers, Pearce didn’t seem too embarrassed by her enthusiasm. He hugged her right back, and was the centre of attention as the whole gang eventually got their chance to welcome him home.

The video – which has had us on the verge of tears – has been viewed nearly 345,000 times. It has gone viral since being uploaded two weeks ago, and has gained attention both locally and internationally.

What about the Vervet Rescue Centre?

The Vervet Rescue Centre have over 100 monkeys in their care. According to their Facebook page, the organisation help rescue and rehabilitate these animals when they’ve hurt themselves in the wild.

Once they’ve made a full recovery, they are always released back into their natural habitats. Although we don’t know how many receive the hero’s welcome that Pearce got, we do know that Umsizi are responsible for incredible and essential services to maintaining South Africa’s Vervet population.